Chelsea has officially confirmed that Under-21 head coach Calum McFarlane will lead the senior squad for tomorrow’s Premier League match against Fulham. This fixture marks McFarlane’s second game in temporary charge following the departure of former manager Enzo Maresca.
McFarlane recently guided the team to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester City. Although the club has appointed Liam Rosenior as the new permanent head coach, McFarlane will handle touchline duties one last time before the official transition.
A Smooth Managerial Transition at Cobham
During a media conference at Cobham on Monday, McFarlane discussed his recent interactions with the incoming manager. He revealed that the two held a brief conversation following the announcement of Rosenior’s appointment.
“I spoke to Liam briefly last night, and he’s really excited to take the role,” McFarlane stated. He also mentioned that while they plan to meet more thoroughly at the training ground today, the current plan remains unchanged. Specifically, McFarlane is tasked with leading the squad through the midweek London derby.
Securing a Winning Start for Rosenior
The interim boss is determined to secure a positive result to help the new manager hit the ground running. McFarlane highlighted his goal of earning three points at Craven Cottage to provide a strong foundation for Rosenior to build upon.
“We will try to do the best job possible,” McFarlane explained. “Our goal is to give him three points to take and then build on.”
Once the Fulham match concludes, Rosenior will officially begin his tenure. He is expected to start working directly with the first-team squad immediately after the game.